Does a Power of Attorney Need To Be Notarized? DoNotPay Knows the Answer

Whether you must notarize a document depends on many factors. Some contracts—such as wills, trusts, affidavits, and court documents—require notarization, while others only need signatures.

Does a power of attorney need to be notarized? DoNotPay explains the process from A to Z. We will also teach you how to notarize any document effortlessly!

What Do You Need To Know About a Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is a document that allows one person (an agent) to act on another person’s (principal’s) behalf. It ensures the principal’s directives regarding their finances or medical care will be followed if they become incapacitated.

There are four types of power of attorney documents:

1. General
2. Limited or Special
3. Durable
4. Medical

So, Does a Power of Attorney Need To Be Notarized?

Each state has specific rules for creating a legally valid power of attorney. Since the document gives the agent significant power and responsibility, most states take extra measures to prevent foul play. One of the measures is the verification of the principal's signature by a witness, notary, or even both.

A notary public’s role is to verify that the:

• Principal’s signature is valid
• Principal has signed the document voluntarily

Witnesses and a notary public must sign the document after the principal.

Even if your state of residence doesn't require a power of attorney notarization, it doesn’t hurt to get it. A notary’s certification will help you prove the document’s authenticity in case of any disputes.

Power of Attorney Notarization Criteria for Different States

You have to meet your state’s requirements for notarizing a power of attorney. If you don’t follow the rules, the document will be unenforceable in court.

Here is an overview of state-specific standards for validating a power of attorney:

States often change rules of notarizing a power of attorney, so check your state’s current requirements before visiting the notary.

How To Notarize Your Power of Attorney

You can notarize a power of attorney in several ways, depending on your state of residence. The most frequent methods are:

1. In-person
2. Online

If you decide to notarize your document in person, you need to:

1. Find a bank, the AAA, or some other institution that offers notary services
2. Schedule an appointment
3. Provide an ID
4. Pay a fee
5. Sign the document in the presence of witnesses and a notary

Notarizing any document in person is a tiresome procedure. The process can take weeks and requires a lot of legwork. If you have a busy schedule, you will have trouble adjusting it to the notary’s limited business hours.

Mobile notaries provide a more convenient method of notarizing documents. To use traveling notary’s services, you should:

1. Find a mobile notary
2. Schedule an appointment
3. Meet the notary at a scheduled time in your house, office, or some other place

Mobile notaries are practical because they are available seven days a week. The downside is the price. You will likely have to cover their travel expenses on top of a standard fee.

Online notarization has become popular recently, partly because of the coronavirus outbreak. The process requires you to e-sign a document during a video call with the notary and witnesses. The notary then notarizes your contract with an electronic signature and seal and sends it back.

Notarize Your Power of Attorney With DoNotPay

If an online notary service sounds appealing to you, you should use DoNotPay! Our app will set everything up, so you can receive your notarized document in no time!

You only have to provide the power of attorney and your email address, and we will take care of the rest.

Here is how the process goes:

1. Access DoNotpay
2. Go to our Notarize Any Document product
3. Upload the document
4. Type in your email address

We will send you a link via email. You can use the link to confirm your appointment with the notary and sign the document during a video meeting. The notary will take minutes to verify its authenticity.

DoNotPay Helps You Create Documents

The advantages of using DoNotPay are numerous. Our features integrate, enabling you to create, notarize, and even fax documents from the same platform!

Here are some of the contracts and agreements we can generate, get notarized, and fax for you:

• Promissory Note
• General Affidavit
• Non-Compete Agreement
• LLC Operating Rules Document
• General Business Contract
• Bill of Sale
• Non-Disclosure Agreement
• Independent Contractor Agreement
• Estoppel Certificate
• Residential Lease Agreement
• Intent To Purchase Real Estate
• Prenuptial Agreement
• Quitclaim Deed
• Child Care Authorization Form
• Parenting Plan (Child Custody)

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